YREKA – Following the preliminary hearing in the Siskiyou County Superior Court last week, Superior Court Judge Donald Langford ruled that a Yreka man will be held to answer to two charges of sexual assault against a minor.

Pedro Alberto Escobar-Lopez, 39, was held to answer to felony counts of forcible rape and continuous sexual abuse of a child.

Langford’s ruling came after investigating officers testified that the victim came forward on March 20 and alleged that she was sexually assaulted by Lopez. When interviewed by law enforcement she alleged that she had been sexually abused by Lopez from an early age.

Langford ordered for Lopez to reappear in court on April 16 for further proceedings.

Lopez was arrested on March 20 and has since been held in the Siskiyou County Jail on $100,000 bail. In addition, he has a legal hold while officials investigate to determine whether he is a legal resident of the Unites States.